The war against drugs waged by the current administration has begun conversations that underlined how big the drug problem is in the Philippines, with over 3 million Filipinos addicted to illegal drugs, especially meth or shabu.
However, with the war against drugs in the forefront of today’s news and social media buzz comes many misinformation and stereotypes that doesn’t help us if we really want to help those who have been affected by shabu and the destruction addiction to it brings.
So here, we give you the things you need to know about shabu and how you can help someone who is addicted to this highly dangerous drug.
What is meth or shabu?
Methamphetamine, or meth is commonly known here in the Philippines as shabu. In other countries, it’s also known as crystal, crystal meth, ice, chalk, and many others. It’s an extremely addictive stimulant drug that comes as a white, odorless, crystalline form, which is also often sold as a crystalline powder.
Meth abuse
Shabu is abused typically by smoking it using paraphernalia such as aluminum foil. Some also snort it, smoke it in glass pipes, ingest it, or dissolve in water and alcohol to be injected intravenously. Smoking and injecting the drug is the fastest way to get it to the brain, creating a more sudden and intense euphoria. But because this feeling disappears quickly, users take repeated doses, creating a pattern that can then lead to dependence and addiction.
Signs of meth abuse
Someone who is under the influence of meth will show the following symptoms:
- increased physical activity
- restlessness
- increased heart rate and blood pressure
- increased body temperature
- dilated pupils
- dilated pupils with eyes wide open and restless
- sleeplessness
- loss of appetite
- paranoia and irritability
- obsessively doing repetitive, often meaningless, tasks
- dry mouth
- bad breath
- uncontrollable jaw clenching
- uncontrollable energy
- unpredictable behavior
- picking at skin (for imaginary bugs)
Other symptoms include:
- anxiety
- fatigue
- depression, especially after the high subsides
- violent behavior
- seizures
- over-confidence
- airway or respiratory problems
- persistent increased heart rate which can lead to heart attack
The following video can tell you more about shabu and shabu addiction:
(credits to Drug Free World)
The bad turn
Overtime, chronic shabu users will experience the negative consequences of drug abuse:
- mental confusion
- memory problems
- lack of empathy
- paranoia
- over-fatigue
- headache
- extreme weight loss
- pallid skin
- meth mouth due to decaying teeth
- meth marks or scabs from picking at skin
- seizures
- respiratory problems
- heart diseases
- cardiac arrest
- stroke
- death
But that’s not all. there are also harmful consequences to the family, livelihood, and reputation of someone who is addicted to shabu. Many of them would start stealing from their own families or from other people just to support their addiction. They may also commit crimes because of over-confidence, lowered inhibitions, aggression, and paranoia. Many may also become hypersexual, resulting to unprotected sex, sexual abuse, and sexual assault.
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